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 Negative Camber issue

 Created by: PBMini
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 Posted: Jul 25, 2017 12:12PM
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CA
My understanding has been that Minis were originally manufactured with positive camber varying between 1.5-2.5 degrees.  So the top of the tires wheels would always be leaning outwards.

Our solution has always been adjustable lower arms.  This allowed adjustment to 0.7-1.0 negative camber for road use.

Never used the allegedly 2 deg. negative arms.  Why?  If you started at 2.5 positive you would still be 0.5 deg. positive afterwards.

Early on we used aircraft grade heim joints, brass spacers & 'pinch fit' large diameter oil line to retain grease around the spacers & shield the heim joints.  This solution may NOT be legal in some jurisdictions.  Since we have bought the HD adjustable arms for the road. 

And...adjustable camber brackets at the rear to achieve the same 0.7-1 deg. negative camber. 

 Posted: Jul 25, 2017 07:14AM
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To get negative camber with stock new parts as you have stock drums there would have to be a difference in length between either the upper or lower arms. I am not sure if the hydro cars used a different length upper arm (if replaced).

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Jul 25, 2017 06:33AM
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Yeah none of the parts are adjustable. And I didn't replace the control arms. Everything else measured the same length. And it is all drum brakes, twin leading front 

I will see if I can post a picture soon

 Posted: Jul 24, 2017 10:50PM
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....."new stock parts" suggests non adjustable bits.... which means exactly that.  You don't get to choose camber/caster angles.

Have you measured your new bits against the old?? 

My only guess is that you have disc brakes?? possibly sourced from a Metro.  These use a different upright/hub from the Mini and need adjustable lower arms to compensate..

Photos??

Cheers, Ian

 Posted: Jul 24, 2017 08:54PM
 Edited:  Jul 24, 2017 09:02PM
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US
Quote:
Originally Posted by PBMini
The issue is that it has a pretty serious negative camber in the front, and I don't know how to correct it.  Any suggestions to get the wheels staying straight up and down?
Can you roughly quantify the camber angle in degrees for us? Factory specs are 2° (+/- 1°) positive. Most of us who engage in occasional "spirited" driving carry a bit of negative camber.

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Jul 24, 2017 08:04PM
 Edited:  Jul 24, 2017 08:08PM
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first question is, do you have an adjustable diagonal tie rod and adjustable lower control arms? if YES,  then it's an easy fix.

 Posted: Jul 24, 2017 07:37PM
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Hey everyone,

I am pretty new to my mini, and am in the process of getting it running.  It has been around the block once or twice so far.

It is a 1970 1100 with wet suspension.

I have replaced most of the front suspension parts with new stock parts.

New ball joints, bushings, tie rods, tie rod ends, CV Joints, control arm pins/bushings, etc.

The issue is that it has a pretty serious negative camber in the front, and I don't know how to correct it.  Any suggestions to get the wheels staying straight up and down?  Thanks,

Phil